Melanie Gibson Class Diaries, Training Tips

When a Hiatus Leads to Victory (i.e., the Best Jump Back Kicks Ever)

split kick
Okay, I didn’t do THIS, but it felt like it.

Last night in taekwondo class I did the best jump back kicks I’ve ever done in my taekwondo career. Ever. (I’m a second degree black belt, it’s about time, right?) It’s not like I haven’t been doing jump back kicks lately, but it’s a whole different ball game when you’re hitting targets versus just kicking the air. Hitting targets, whether they’re boards, kicking pads, or people, is extremely important in taekwondo or any striking art. You can hit the air all you want and get fairly well conditioned, but it’s quite a different thing when there is weight and resistance at play, as well as the precision required with hitting a target, whether it’s moving or not. This is not only important for sparring and breaking, but it builds power and speed as well.
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Melanie Gibson Training Tips

A Black Belt Takes a LesMills Body Combat Class

bodycombat-kick-shoes
Good lock of the kick, but y’all need to turn your hips and point your toes down…then again, what do I know. I’m just a black belt.

Two years ago I wrote a review of the ballet barre class my gym introduced in early 2016. I’ve since gotten the hang of it, have become pretty proficient in the moves, and have seen some improvement in my core and leg strength. I usually did a little barre and swimming on the side while I took 5-6 taekwondo classes per week.

Now that my taekwondo training has dwindled to next to nothing, I need something else to keep me in fighting shape. About 2-3 months ago I started taking Body Combat at my gym. Body Combat is one of the latest parts of the Les Mills gym class machine, which now includes 16 different branded classes that are taught at gyms across the world. There are certain “versions” that are released every few months, which keeps both the certified instructors and participants on their toes.
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Melanie Gibson Training Tips, Work and Martial Arts

When Fun Becomes Work: How to Get The Love Back

hiding under covers

Funny, the last tweet that appeared on my blog was an article I’d written for the website BookMartialArts.com titled “How Martial Arts Can Reduce Work-Related Stress.” What happens when martial arts IS the cause of my “work-related stress”?
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Melanie Gibson Class Diaries, Training Tips

Two Months Until Second Dan Begins With Rest, Wine, and Whataburger

texas whataburger
YAS! That’s how Texas black belts fuel themselves!

So it’s still the plan that I will be testing for second degree black belt in about two months. Even though I’ve had two years to prepare for this test as opposed to six months for first degree, I’m more nervous and leery about it this time around. If you’d like to read more about the psychological aspects and musings on it, read this post. I’ll continue with that theme in another post. Now I’m going to talk about what I plan to do with myself until that eagerly awaited day.
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Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, My Guest Posts, Self-Development and Leadership, Training Tips

My Guest Post: How to be a Martial Arts Leader Without a Black Belt

This article was originally a guest post on the website BookMartialArts.com.

different belts

Did you know you become a leader the first time you wrap a white belt around your waist? Black belts are usually seen as the leaders in their martial arts schools, but other students, regardless of age or rank, can begin working on their influential leadership skills long before they reach advanced levels. While it is the responsibility of the instructor to coach and mentor his or her lower ranking students so they are ready to lead when they reach black belt, it is just as much the student’s responsibility to actively develop their leadership skills along the way.

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Melanie Gibson Training Tips

So…I Stopped Eating Meat

funny-picture-vegetarian-because-i-hate-vegetables

I haven’t eaten meat for the past three months…well, six months, really, but with a caveat. I stopped eating meat on September 12, 2016. Exactly two months later I made an exception for a gyro, pastitsio, and souvlaki at the local Greek food festival and later meatloaf for dinner. Worth it. Gyros, you guys, come on, gyros. Then I went right back to not eating meat. I had a little bit of meat over Thanksgiving and Christmas, and when I got on the plane to fly back home after the holidays I was done.

Before I move on, let me just do my instructor and other Texas friends favor and yell “HIPPIE!” Yes, yes, I know. I am a hippie.
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Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, My Guest Posts, Training Tips

My Guest Post: The Best Sports to Complement Your Martial Arts Training

This article was originally a guest post on the website BookMartialArts.com

running on the beach

A dedicated martial artist spends hours upon hours training, sweating, striking, sparring, throwing, and rolling. A dedicated martial artist looks forward to time on the mat and reaps the mental, emotional, and physical benefits of his or her chosen sport. But every once in a while a change in routine can be just what a dedicated martial artist needs.

What are the best sports to complement your martial arts training? Something to consider is how you need to condition your body to improve your martial arts performance. Do you want to improve your speed? Do you need to be more flexible? It’s also just as important to include activities that are more restorative and gentle to counteract the pressure and strain you may put on your body from hard, repetitive training in one area of focus.

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Melanie Gibson The Poomsae Series, Training Tips

Finding Fresh Ways to Learn…Or, I Geek Out at a Forms Seminar

get-excited-and-start-learning

This past weekend I attended a poomsae (forms) referee seminar sponsored by USA Taekonwdo, the national governing body for the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and is a member of the World Taekwondo Federation. I’m not really interested in judging or refereeing at tournaments, but since forms are one of my favorite aspects of practicing taekwondo, I was curious enough to sign up.
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Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, Guest Writers, Training Tips

Guest Writer: Should Adults Begin Martial Arts? (I bet you can guess the answer)

BJJ white belts

Hello Little Black Belt readers! Have you always wanted to try martial arts but feel like life keeps getting in the way? Do you feel like you’re too old or out of shape or just plain busy? Or are you like me, who did a martial art as a kid and never though you’d return to it?  

Now is the time to start, and I have a treat for you! I’d like to welcome my second guest writer Richard to the blog. Richard runs the fantastic BJJ and MMA blog Attack the Back and shares his thoughts on what it’s like to start a martial art as an adult and the benefits he has experienced. Enjoy!

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Melanie Gibson The Poomsae Series, Training Tips

Channeling Your Power: When Brute Force Just Doesn’t Cut It

punch-pow

A tall, blonde 17-year-old boy stood at attention near the back of the training area as I gave him some feedback and pointers on his form. He and his three siblings, all blue belt/red tips, were practicing the form Palgwe Yuk Jang in preparation for an upcoming  tournament.

“You have a lot of power, and that’s good,” I began. “This is a short form, but it’s expressive and strong so you need that power…there is, however, such a thing as too much power, or maybe the better word is force. Does that make sense?” He nodded.
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